Roof and tower works complete at Dockyard Church thanks to crucial additional support from Historic England

The Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust is delighted to announce a major milestone in the epic project to rescue, repair and transform the derelict former Dockyard Church at Sheerness, with the completion of repairs to the monumental clock tower and the reinstatement of the roof.

The rescue and repair of the damaged tower has been one of the highlights of the conservation work. The entire structure, which was found to be unstable, was dismantled, with every stone and brick sorted and labelled before reconstruction. The transformation of the tower is now complete, thanks to a £168,000 grant from Historic England.

Work began in November 2020 on the £8 million project to repair the building and transform it from a roofless ruin to a beautifully restored Sheppey landmark. The project has been made possible thanks to a £4.2million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and has also benefited from £250,000 from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund via Historic England.

Tower complete. Photo: Hugh Broughton Architects

Works are due for completion at the end of 2022. It is hoped the building will be fully open by April 2023.

Will Palin, Chairman of the Dockyard Trust said…

“This is an incredibly exciting moment in this unique restoration project. After lying roofless and neglected for 20 years, this beautiful Grade II* building has now regained its splendour and pride. The tower, lovingly repaired, commands the Sheppey skyline once more and the roof, destroyed by fire in 2001, has been faithfully restored to its 1828 design.”

Roof works underway. Photo: Hugh Broughton Architects

The tower is now visible again from miles around distinguished by its four painted clock faces, gilded weathervane and 1828 stone balustrade.

The complex roof structure, which follows the shape of the Georgian original, now includes four circular roof lights to illuminate the full-height space inside. The roof trusses span 18m wall to wall and weigh 3.5 tonnes each. The trusses are supported entirely by the walls, spanning the full width of the building without putting any weight on the repaired decorative iron columns on which they appear to sit.

Whilst the shell of the building has been meticulously repaired, the interior will be a more contemporary version of the space that was lost in a devastating fire 20 years ago. When complete, the building will house an enterprise hub for young people, a display of the famous Dockyard Model, and a café for visitors

The tower was carefully dismantled before being reinstated. Photo: Hugh Broughton Architects

Marion Brinton, Partnerships Team Leader at Historic England, said…

“We are delighted to have supported the Trust with their sensitive repair of the Dockyard Church. Seeing the clock tower expertly repaired and the original Georgian design reinstated is a fantastic achievement and a significant step towards the building coming back into use so it can once again play an important role in supporting the local community.”

Progress of the roof construction. Photo: Hugh Broughton Architects.

The project has been funded thanks for a generous £4.2million million grant from the Heritage Fund as well as support from 23 other trusts and foundations.

Stuart McLeod, Director England - London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said…

“It’s fantastic news that the project has reached such an incredible milestone in the restoration of Sheerness Dockyard Church. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, we were able to support this transformational project with a substantial grant of £4.2million to safeguard this building for future generations. Not only is our grant bringing the building back to life, it will also create a unique setting for a new enterprise hub for young people and a café. This important heritage will resonate with the community and beyond for years to come.”

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